German Foreign Minister Alena Berbok and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Salenberg have been wary of reports of de-escalation of tensions on the Ukrainian border, but have stressed the need for an open and honest dialogue with Russia.
“The only way out of this extremely dangerous situation is through dialogue and confidence-building,” Ms Burbok said, reiterating that the basis for all talks was to maintain Ukraine’s sovereignty and Europe’s security structure. “Every country has the right to choose its path freely and it is the right of people in all countries to live without the fear of war,” he said. The German Foreign Minister described as “a positive example” the announcements about the withdrawal of troops from the Ukrainian border, “if they are observed” and stressed that “we will monitor whether the words will follow the actions”.
Mr Salenberg, for his part, spoke of “mixed messages” from Moscow to the West, calling the withdrawal of Russian troops a “positive” element. At the same time, however, he stressed, the Kremlin’s thoughts on recognizing the separatist regions are a negative element. “We have to be very careful. “A swallow does not bring spring”, he said characteristically. “The withdrawal would be a positive message if it became a reality. “De-escalation is in Russia’s hands,” he said, calling for an “open, serious dialogue” with Moscow. “It takes two for tango,” he said, expressing gratitude for any initiative towards reconciliation. “Every channel must be used to prevent a military conflict,” he said, but also noted that “if there is one thing that Russian President Vladimir Putin has accomplished, it is to unite Europe and the free world in an unprecedented unanimity.”
The two ministers also shared common views on the European perspective of the Western Balkans, with Mrs Burbok calling for speeding up of the process and Mr Salenberg talking about the “courtyard of Europe” and calling it “non-negotiable”. the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Europe must ensure that the Western Balkans do not become a playing field for players outside Europe,” the Austrian diplomat warned.
Alexander Salenberg donated to his counterpart, who is known as a football fan, a Werder Bremen jersey with the signature of the Austrian football player Andreas Herzog, with the result that Mrs. Berbok inadvertently called him a “dear Andre pocket with “Austrian German” because, as he jokingly said, the two peoples speak “… almost the same language”.
In addition to the Foreign Minister, Mr. Salenberg met in Berlin with the former President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schieble, the Minister of Transport Volker Wiesing and the head of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Michael Roth.
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